The invention relates to a light module for a motor vehicle headlight for emitting light to form a light pattern in an area in front of the light module, the light module comprising two or more primary light sources that produce light to form a main light pattern and at least one secondary light source that produces light to form an additional light pattern, the additional light pattern overlapping the main light pattern to form an entire light pattern, the primary light sources being associated with at least one primary reflector and being set up to bundle the light emitted the from the primary light sources and to direct it in the form of the main light pattern into an area in front of the light module, an optical imaging system being associated with the at least one secondary light source and being set up to project the light emitted from the at least one secondary light source in the form of the additional light pattern into an area in front of the light module.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle headlight with such a light module.
Moreover, the invention relates to a motor vehicle headlight with at least one light module of the type mentioned at the beginning and/or with at least one lighting device of the type mentioned above.
In addition, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one such motor vehicle headlight.
Modern motor vehicle construction more and more frequently emphasizes design freedom and compactness of motor vehicle headlights. However, the wish for more functionality and efficiency often runs counter to this, for which reason, e.g., laser light sources and LED light sources are more and more frequently used in combination in light modules to form light patterns, especially high beam patterns.
The term “functionality” should be understood to mean that it should be possible to realize a two-stage high beam light pattern, wherein the first stage should achieve the legal minimum illuminance and/or the specified minimum distance of a high beam light pattern, and the second stage should achieve the legal maximum illuminance and/or the specified maximum distance or the maximum range/performance/safety.
Furthermore, combined use of laser light sources and LED light sources places especially high requirements on the adjustment of the individual units with respect to one another, such as, e.g., making the optical axes parallel in a simple and compact form by means of a defined (minimum) number of adjusting elements/screws.
A laser light unit that can be used in a motor vehicle headlight consists of at least one laser light source (laser diode) and at least one light conversion means (called a phosphor for short), since no laser light may be emitted directly onto the road. Such laser light units are the best choices because of their size and their emission characteristics. Laser light units produce the light to produce a light pattern by irradiating the phosphor with laser light. An optical imaging system in front (with reference to the main emission direction of the laser light unit) of the light source (i.e., the laser beam-illuminated area of the phosphor) projects, as a light pattern in front of the laser unit (and, when the laser unit is installed in a motor vehicle headlight, in front of the motor vehicle headlight), this light source, which can be relatively small (usually 100-900 microns, preferably smaller than 600 microns). Consequently, the laser light unit can also have a space-saving design. A laser light unit produces a bright and long-range light pattern.
By contrast, LED light sources are good for producing a wide light pattern, or at least parts of a wide light pattern. (The advantages of such a combination have already been described in WO2012161170A1, EP2551154A2, or in DE102013200925A1, among other places.)
The goal of this invention is to create a light module that eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and that meets the corresponding requirements on illuminating engineering, design, and electronics.
The invention accomplishes this with a light module of the type mentioned at the beginning wherein the main light pattern is in the form of a short-range light pattern and the additional light pattern is in the form of a long-range light pattern and the entire light pattern is in the form of a long-range light pattern.
In the context of this invention, the “range” of a light pattern is understood to mean the distance between the motor vehicle headlight and a line lying transverse to the optical axis of the motor vehicle headlight (transverse to the main emission direction of the motor vehicle headlight) at which the illuminance falls below one lux. Here please refer to
In the context of this invention, the term “short-range light pattern” is understood to mean a light pattern with a range less than 350 meters, preferably with a range between 100 meters and 350 meters.
In the context of this invention, the term “long-range light pattern” is understood to mean a light pattern with a range more than 400 meters, preferably with a range between 400 meters and 700 meters. With respect to the parallelism of the light bundle produced by the light module, it is advantageous if the at least one primary reflector is in the form of a paraboloidal reflector.
In the context of this invention and consistent with tried and tested practice, the term “paraboloidal reflector” is preferably understood to mean a reflector whose reflective surface has one, two, or more segments, each of which can be essentially in the form of a part of a paraboloid of revolution that is theoretically infinitely large.
The paraboloidal reflector is designed so that the light produced by a light source arranged at the focal point of a paraboloidal reflector propagates as a light bundle, a vertical section of the light bundle having light beams that propagate essentially parallel to one another and a horizontal section of the light bundle having light beams that essentially diverge from one another.
The terms “vertical” and “horizontal” relate to a light module installed in a motor vehicle.
A form of the invention that has been tried and true in practice provides that the two or more primary light sources be in the form of LEDs.
With respect to the controller, it can be advantageous if every primary light source is associated with exactly one primary reflector.
With respect to the production of the primary reflectors, if there are two or more primary reflectors, it can be advantageous for all primary reflectors to be made together in a single piece.
A further development of the invention can provide that if there are two or more primary reflectors, all primary reflectors be separate from one another.
It can be useful for every primary light source to be arranged at a focal point of the at least one primary reflector.
A preferred embodiment of this invention can provide that the at least one secondary light source be in the form of light conversion means of a laser light unit.
Moreover, it can advantageously be provided that the primary light sources be in the form of light sources of one type, preferably in the form of LEDs, and that the at least one secondary light source be in the form of a light source of another type, preferably in the form of light conversion means of a laser light unit.
This has the advantage, for example, that if the at least one secondary light source should turn off for safety-related reasons, the primary light sources alone can produce light to form a short-range light pattern meeting legal standards. The short-range light pattern can be in the form of a high beam light pattern.
It is entirely conceivable for the means of light conversion to be illuminated by two or more laser light sources (directly or indirectly, that is through light deflection means, for example a mirror or a micromirror). It can further be provided that if there are two or more secondary light sources, every secondary light source is in the form of light conversion means or that every secondary light source is in the form of an area of the light conversion means, every area of a laser light source being (directly or indirectly) illuminated and these areas being disjoint (not overlapping).
Furthermore, it can be advantageous for the optical imaging system to have at least one secondary reflector, preferably a free form reflector.
With respect to the installation depth of the light module, it is especially advantageous if the optical imaging system has at least one hyperboloid reflector.
In the context of this invention and consistent with tried and tested practice, the term “hyperboloid reflector” is preferably understood to mean a reflector whose reflective surface has one, two, or more segments, it being possible for each segment to be essentially part of a hyperboloid that is theoretically infinitely large.
It can be provided that the hyperboloid reflector has auxiliary optics in front of it.
With respect to the adjustment of the light module, it can be expedient if there is a collimator lens in front of the hyperboloid reflector, the at least one secondary light source preferably being arranged in a real focal point of the hyperboloid reflector, and the focal point of the collimator lens preferably coinciding with the virtual focal point of the hyperboloid reflector.
It can be provided that a secondary reflector focal length is equal to the at least one primary reflector focal length.
In the context of this invention, the term “focal length” is understood to mean the distance between the principal plane and the focal point. In optical imaging systems, which can comprise, for example, reflectors, lenses, mirrors, prisms, diaphragms, etc., it is natural to distinguish between an object space and an image space. Moreover, the technical literature discusses real and virtual images and real and virtual focal points, depending on the imaging properties of an optical system. For example, a biconcave lens (and/or a hyperboloid reflector) has a real and a virtual focal point.
It can be advantageous, if there are two or more primary reflectors, for the primary reflector focal lengths to be the same.
To increase the quality of the emitted light pattern, it can be provided that an optical axis of the imaging system and an optical axis of the at least one primary reflector are oriented essentially parallel to one another.
It can be useful, if there are two or more primary reflectors, for all their optical axes to be oriented parallel to one another and for the optical axis of the imaging system to be oriented essentially parallel to the optical axes of the primary reflectors.
Moreover, it can be advantageous if the primary light sources are arranged so that the at least one secondary light source is surround by the primary light sources/arranged between the primary light sources.
The goals mentioned at the beginning are further accomplished with a lighting device that has a supporting frame, a main support, and an additional support, the supporting frame being set up to receive the main support and the additional support, the main support being set up to receive the primary light sources and the at least one primary reflector, and the additional support being set up to receive the at least one secondary light source and the optical imaging system.
A preferred embodiment can provide that the main support and/or the additional support is/are each in the form of a heat sink.
With respect to the adjustability of the lighting device, it can be advantageous if the main support and the supporting frame are associated with at least one first adjustment triangle system to adjust the main support with respect to the supporting frame.
Moreover, it can advantageously be provided that the additional support and the supporting frame are associated with at least one second adjustment triangle system to adjust the additional support with respect to the supporting frame.
In the context of this invention, the term “adjustment triangle system” is generally understood to mean an adjustment system that adjusts the support with respect to the supporting frame through three actuating elements (e.g., adjusting screws), which are pivotably connected with the corresponding support and with the supporting frame. The adjustment is normally done by means of mechanical and/or electric motor actuation means, which are associated with the lighting device. Such adjustment systems are known in the prior art (see, e.g., the applicant's application A 50329/2013).
It can be useful if the supporting frame is pivotable about at least one axis. The light module can be used to produce, e.g., curve light light patterns.
With respect to the size of the lighting device, it can advantageously be provided that the supporting frame is arranged between the additional support and the main support.
It is advantageous if the supporting frame is arranged behind the main support and the additional support is arranged behind the supporting frame.
Here the term “behind” means that the supporting frame is arranged opposite the direction of travel/light exit direction from the main support, and the additional support is arranged opposite the direction of travel/light exit direction from the supporting frame.
A preferred embodiment can provide that the secondary light source be in the form of light conversion means of a laser light unit, and that the laser light unit be arranged in a laser light unit housing, this housing being elongated and being arranged [in] and guidable through a receiving opening in the supporting frame, this receiving opening being set up to receive the laser light unit housing. With respect to the connection of the adjustment triangle systems with the supporting frame and the main support, it can be advantageous if the supporting frame has at least three passages and if the main support has at least three receiving sockets, every receiving socket of the main support corresponding to one passage of the supporting frame.
With respect to the connection of the adjustment triangle systems with the additional support and the supporting frame, it can be advantageous if the additional support has at least three passages and the supporting frame has at least three receiving sockets, each receiving socket of the supporting frame corresponding to one passage of the additional support.
The invention along with other advantages is explained in detail below using preferred, non-restrictive sample embodiments, which are illustrated in a drawing. The figures are as follows:
First, please refer to
It is also preferred that all real focal lengths (i.e., the distance between the principal plane and the focal point, in the case of the hyperboloid reflector the real focal point at which the secondary light source is arranged) PBW1, PBW2, HBW1 of all reflectors used in this invention be essentially the same. This can minimize the installation depth of the light module and thereby take into account the design freedom and compactness that are more and more frequently emphasized in today's headlights.
Moreover, the primary reflectors and the secondary reflector are arranged so that their optical axes PO1, PO2, SO1 run parallel to one another. This is especially relevant for the quality of the emitted light pattern.
The arrangement of the essential components of the invention shown in
In the context of this invention, the term “angle error” is understood to be an optical aberration that can occur when a motor vehicle headlight has modules consisting of at least one light source and at least one reflector associated with the at least one light source, these modules being separate from one another and being set up to form a common light pattern. The light patterns produced by the respective light modules are measured on a plotting screen set up transverse to the light's main direction of propagation at a distance (typically 25 meters), and the optical axes of the respective modules are adjusted so that the light pattern on the plotting screen essentially meets the requirements, preferably the legally prescribed standards (for example, the ECE regulations). An orientation of the optical axes of the modules that is inexactly parallel to a substantial extent can result in distortions in the desired light pattern after the plotting screen and in front of the plotting screen.
A side view of the inventive light module presented in
Since the preferred sample embodiments of the light module have been illustrated, the discussion will now refer to the arrangement of the light module in a lighting device.
In the context of this invention, the term “adjustment triangle system” is generally understood to mean an adjustment system that adjusts the support with respect to the supporting frame through three actuating elements (e.g., adjusting screws), which are pivotably connected with the corresponding support and with the supporting frame. The adjustment is normally done by means of mechanical and/or electric motor actuation means, which are associated with the lighting device. Such adjustment systems are known in the prior art (see, e.g., the applicant's application A 50329/2013).
In a preferred further development of the invention, the laser light unit has, as is shown in
Moreover,
When the supporting frame is connected with the main support, the thread sections of the (three) adjusting screws HES1, HES2, HES3 are arranged in the (three) passages provided for them in the supporting frame TR in such a way that the thread sections of the adjusting screws engage into the corresponding counter thread sections of the supporting frame. When this happens, the spherical head of each adjusting screw engages into the corresponding receiving socket of the main support, this receiving socket being set up to receive a spherical head, as is shown in
Furthermore, when the supporting frame TR is connected with the additional support ZT, the thread sections of the (three) adjusting screws ZES1, ZES2, ZES3 are arranged in the (three) passages provided for them in the additional support ZT so that the thread sections of the adjusting screws engage into the corresponding counter thread sections of the additional support ZT, the spherical head of each adjusting screw engaging into the corresponding receiving socket of the supporting frame, this receiving socket being set up to receive a spherical head, as is shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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A50797/2015 | Sep 2015 | AT | national |
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/757,673, filed Mar. 6, 2018, which is the national stage of PCT/AT2016/060059, filed Sep. 15, 2016, which claims priority to Austrian Application No. A50797/2015, filed Sep. 17, 2015. These application are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190390833 A1 | Dec 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15757673 | US | |
Child | 16535554 | US |